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Friday, January 15, 2010

14 Red Cross offices in Atlantic Canada will be open tomorrow to accomodate those who wish to donate funds to help those affected by the earthquake in Haiti.Offices will be open from 10 am to 4 pm tomorrow in Saint John, Fredericton, Moncton and Bathurst.Financial donations for the "Haiti Earthquake Fund" can also be made securely by credit card 24 hours a day online at www.redcross.ca/helpnow or by calling 1-800-418-1111.

Add Bell Aliant to the growing list of companies stepping up to help Haiti in it's time of need. Public Affairs Manager Alyson Queen tells CHSJ News, along with writing a $25,000 dollar check, you can go to their website at bellaliant.ca or bellaliant.net and check out some of the initiatives.

Satellite phones were also packaged and sent with the load of supplies on the two Canadian Naval vessels that left Halifax earlier this week. Queen says they will keep the set-ups in place for as long as the need is there.

A book of condolences has been set up for RCMP Sgt. Mark Gallagher who died in the earthquake in Haiti. Sgt. Gallagher did most of his policing service in this Province and served with the Moncton Force before joining the National Force.

The books are set up at the headquarters in Fredericton, Moncton, Belledune, Bathurst, Dalhousie, Campbellton and Woodstock. You can also go on-line and send your best wishes to his wife and children.
Go to on-line book of condolences here:

Help for the country of Haiti continues to roll in from Greater Saint John. Java Moose has 100 pounds of Haitian Blue Coffee they are going to roast this weekend and make available at their City market location for a great price starting Monday.

It will be sold for $25 dollars a pound and all the money raised will be given to the Red Cross and the earthquake disaster relief fund.

The provincial Government announcing 63 million dollars in highway and bridge funding for Saint John and Kings Counties. There is over 30 million dollars for two viaducts, lighting and signage as part of the One Mile interchange. There will also be 29 kilometers of new moose fencing south of Oromocto, 85 new schoolbuses are being bought and a bridge at Gardner Creek is being replaced.

There's also lots of paving work in the area of the Highland Road Interchange, Route 102 and the Golden Grove Interchange.

A Moncton man has been banned by the New Brunswick Securities Commission from trading in securities with-in the Province for ten years. This follows an RCMP investigation in which Bradley Murray was accused of selling shares in his lighting company in a manner that constituted fraud.

He was convicted of fraud over $5,000 in court and has served a sentence of two years in prison. This case involved a single investor who lost over $100,000.

If there is blood in the water, the Opposition Conservatives are in attack mode at the Legislature. Since it reconvened on Tuesday, they have been hammering Premier Graham over the proposed sale of the NB Power's major assets to Hydro Quebec. Sensing a ""change"" in Premier Graham's language, Rothesay MLA Margaret Ann Blaney tells CHSJ News, the Liberal caucus appears very nervous.

Blaney says her party specifically asked the Premier if the deal has been scrapped and he didn't deny it. Blaney adds she will be attend a Town Hall meeting next Tuesday at KV High School being hosted by Put NB People First to discuss how to quash the proposal.

The President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers believes the problem can be fixed, but it will take a complete over-haul. This comes after Canada Post confirmed yesterday that areas of Quispamsis and the WestSide had little or no mail delivery since last week. Staffing issues including vacation are at the root of the problem and Wally Moore tells CHSJ News, there are many hurdles in hiring rural carriers including they have to use their own vehicle.

Moore adds Canada Post is aware of the problems these routes face but service is secondary to profits. Canada Post says delivery to the affected areas should get back to normal next week.

Salt Brine is being replaced with an environmentally-friendly product on the section of the Trans Canada Highway which stretches from the Qubec border to Longs Creek. The company responsbile for the road is Brunway and they are going to use a product called Fusion which is a mixture of sugar beet-based anti-icing and de-icing fluid. It is supposed to extend the time salt brine stays on the highway which increases it's melting power.

Officials say motorists will notice a darker, brown residue when Fusion is applied to the road instead of the white, chalky colour left by salt brine. The new product will be used until the end of next month and compared to information from salt usage and whether it can be used on other area's of the Trans Canada. Fusion is already being used on highways in Ontario.

If there is a crack in the Liberal caucus over the NB Power-Hydro Quebec proposal, Conservative Leader David Alward believes it is starting to show. With the departure of Mike Murphy, Alward tells CHSJ News, he is hearing that Liberal MLA's are concerned Premier Graham is not listening to them. As for his own prospects, Alward says he has heard all the talk from political pundits who claim he is not recognizable enough to win the next provincial election but he remains convinced his party is on the right track.

We have an update on the condition of Elsie Wayne. The former Mayor and MP has been at the Regional Hospital since November after suffering a stroke. Her husband Richard tells CHSJ News, she continues her therapy but there is still no indication when she will be able to go home. Richard adds she is making steady progress in her recovery.

No firm committments of cash yet from the provincial or federal governments for repairs to the Harbour Bridge. Authority General Manager Ken Anthony says talks are on-going but no money yet.Anthony adds it's a little soon to talk of speed and lane reductions on the bridge. Anthony adds a meeting with a broker in western Canada was positive and they have some things they are working on that they can't comment on right now.

The final consultation meeting for bike trails in the city is over, and the Terrain Group has a lot of ideas to work with. Planner Kevin Brooks tells CHSJ news, residents are asking for more information on trails, including maps, as well as better maintenance.Terrain Group will be taking all information gathered from these meetings back to leisure services, for an eventual common council presentation in March.